Pure Fun

Fun in Dubai and relaxation in the Maldives: a foolproof combination

How about combining two dream destinations on the same trip? And still enjoying the best of each: infinite fun and total relaxation

By Mari Campos

It is not every day that we leave home to explore the other side of the world. Consequently, there is nothing more practical than combining two dream destinations on the same trip, discovering new emotions and flavors in each one of them.

A sure combination to spend with the whole family is to mix the United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East, with the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean; an exotic and adventurous destination, and the other paradisical and relaxing.

Five hours apart by plane, Dubai and the Maldives together offer, for starters, a majestic desert, adventure-filled parks, spectacular marine life, white sandy beaches and a dazzling turquoise sea. The kind of trip from which you bring home so much more than just beautiful family photos. Are you ready to pack?

Non-stop adventure and entertainment

Considered by many to be the “Las Vegas of the Middle East,” Dubai is also one of the most family-friendly destinations in the region. It has shopping malls, indoor ski slopes, souqs, viewpoints of every kind and some of the best amusement parks on the planet. The little eyes of the young ones will shine as bright as the neon lights of the skyscrapers!

Traveling to Dubai can literally be child’s play filled with fun and learning, day and night. There are plenty of 4×4 tours to discover the immensity of the desert, to see camels up close and to learn typical dances. In Old Dubai, where the emirate began as a mere fishing village, the youngsters will love the narrow alleys of the ocher houses and the traditional boat crossing in minutes from one side of the Dubai Creek to the other. There are so many new things and situations that are so different from the western world! It is a trip to have fun, but also to learn a great deal.

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In the emirate that wants to be the world capital of theme parks, Dubai Parks and Resorts has four of the best of them in its complex. At the Hollywood-inspired Motiongate Dubai, between the Village of the Smurfs and the Hunger Games roller coaster, travelers will find countless attractions inspired by their favorite movies – plus educational areas like Flint’s Imagination Lab, where every child can become a little scientist in his very own laboratory.

Bollywood Parks Dubai, inspired by Mumbai’s legendary film industry, is extremely colorful and festive. It offers adrenaline-pumping attractions, acrobatic shows and dozens of live performances, as well as immense LED screens that reproduce all the magic of the Indian temples and palaces. The whole family will laugh until they cry as they train the dance steps together in the attraction “Show Me Your Jalwa.”

Legoland Dubai, always a children’s favorite, has live shows, roller coasters, simulators and more than 60 million of the mythical colorful LEGO bricks. The park is divided into five different zones for everyone’s taste: Miniland, with miniature buildings of iconic Middle Eastern constructions made from LEGO; Factory, which shows how LEGO pieces are created; Lego City, with simulators for you to fly a plane, drive a boat or become a super hero; Imagination, to build and pilot your own vehicle; and Kingdoms, which is a medieval area with knights, princesses, a castle and an unmissable dragon roller coaster.

Finally, Legoland Water Park has 20 themed attractions and water slides for those who love to have fun getting wet! You can enjoy the lazy river, the slides and artificial wave pools, and even build a boat entirely out of LEGO and test your ability piloting a ship against the tide.

An exclusive island in the Indian Ocean

After all the hustle and bustle in the Middle East, it is only fair to enjoy a few days of pure relaxation on an exclusive island paradise. Although usually associated with honeymoon couples, the Maldives are also the perfect option for family trips and are filled with fun and unforgettable experiences.

More than any other destination, it is the right choice of hotel in the archipelago that will dictate the family’s experience during the entire trip. Each resort occupies its own island and you will have the chance, with the whole family, to relax, snorkel, sail, spend the afternoon on a deserted sandbar, take cooking classes, observe the stars at night or swim with the dolphins and stingrays, for example.

There are options for different budgets, of course. The Anantara Dhigu is one of the preferred hotels for families. It is easily accessible by speedboat from the international airport, has numerous beach villas (some with two bedrooms) and is very secure: with its neighboring resorts, Anantara Veli and Naladhu, it creates an idyllic lagoon in the ocean, which is shallow and without waves. Its Dhoni Kids Club has playground areas and several free activities, including the unmissable cooking classes.

If the idea is to spend a more luxurious family vacation, the Anantara Kihavah is the right option. Located on the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve with some of the most impressive reefs in the Maldives, it is reached from the capital Malé by a spectacular seaplane flight. It has stunning villas of all sizes, an adorable Thiththi Boli Kids Club and a spectacular Marine Biology Program for children, making every snorkel and sighting of turtles, rays and countless species of fish create educational and lasting memories.

Anantara Kihavah also has the most powerful telescope on the Indian Ocean, a private cinema under the stars on the beach and the unmissable culinary journey of SEA, its award-winning underwater restaurant at six meters deep, with the exuberant local marine life swimming on the other side the panoramic glass windows, while you enjoy tour meal. It is a dream trip come true.

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How to get there:

The most practical option is to take one of Emirates Airlines daily flights connecting Brazil to Dubai, with different possibilities of connections to the Maldives. Considered one of the best airlines in the world (it has our Family Trip seal), it has an excellent entertainment system, good food and usually spoils the kids on board with small gifts and a special menu, which often includes stylized desserts.

How to get around:

Getting around Dubai is extremely easy, from the comfortable and plentiful taxis and app cars to the private transfers and excellent local metro (where children under five can travel for free).

In the Maldives, let your resort take care of everything, from the transfers by speedboat or seaplane from the airport to the tours to explore the local beaches and marine life.

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